Merioneth

Single Member Welsh County

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Background Information

Number of voters:

about 600

Elections

DateCandidateVotes
9 May 1754William Vaughan 
9 Apr. 1761William Vaughan 
24 Mar. 1768John Pugh Pryse 
24 Feb. 1774Evan Lloyd Vaughan vice Pryse, deceased 
9 Nov. 1774Evan Lloyd Vaughan342
 Henry Arthur Corbet258
12 Oct. 1780Evan Lloyd Vaughan 
6 May 1784Evan Lloyd Vaughan 

Main Article

The Vaughans of Corsygedol had represented Merioneth unopposed since 1701, and throughout this period they had the support of the Wynns of Wynnstay, the next leading interest in the county. When William Vaughan left Parliament in 1768, his brother Evan Lloyd was reluctant to stand; and John Pugh Pryse of Gogerddan in Cardiganshire was returned with the support of both Corsygedol and Wynnstay.1 On Pryse’s death in January 1774 Henry Arthur Corbet of Ynysymaengwyn offered himself as a candidate, but this time Evan Lloyd Vaughan was prepared to stand and Corbet withdrew.2 At the general election Corbet had the support of Lord Powis, and stood the poll. After this contest, Evan Lloyd Vaughan held the seat unopposed until his death in 1791.

Author: Peter D.G. Thomas

Notes

P. D. G. Thomas, ‘Parlty. Rep. Merioneth during the 18th Cent.’, Merioneth Hist. Jnl. 1958.

  • 1. NLW, Rûg mss 1225.
  • 2. NLW, Wynnstay mss 128, pp. 25-28.